Officials with WSSC Water say the installation of a new sewer main at the site of a collapsed 30-inch diameter pipe in Germantown, Maryland, is complete. The sewer main pipe, which runs beneath Liberty Mill Road, collapsed Thursday morning, causing a large sinkhole to open. Nearby schools closed as a result.
** FINAL UPDATE **
New Sewer Main Installation Complete in Germantown as Emergency Repairs Move to Restoration Phase Around-the-Clock Efforts Successfully Install Approximately 110 Feet of New Sewer Main CCTV Inspection Confirms New Pipe Installation Complete … pic.twitter.com/h3sdjDgNlK — WSSC Water (@WSSCWaterNews) March 23, 2026
On Monday, WSSC Water said in a release that crews have installed approximately 110 feet of new PVC pipe. A temporary bypass pump to divert wastewater will stay in place as crews continue into the next phase of repairs, the water utility company said. That phase includes inspections of nearby sewer mains and clearing out debris from the main near the site of the collapse. Drinking water was not affected after the pipe collapse, and officials remind customers never to flush wipes or pour grease down the drain. WSSC Water said it’s now planning a comprehensive sewer rehabilitation project to replace and repair more than 1,700 feet of sewer main in the Germantown area.